Soweto marketeers move to New Kanyama

SOWETO market traders have taken their business to New Kanyama on Los Angeles Road after the Presidential directive to close their market and ban vending in the central business district (CBD) due to an outbreak of cholera.

A check by the Daily Nation found that some traders from the closed Soweto market were busy going about with their usual business.

However, cleaning of the markets was still ongoing with the combined team of the defence forces, police and the local authority.

Meanwhile, some relocated traders spoken too said they decided to continue doing their business in New Kanyama because they had to fend for their families.

Ms. Jane Malat, a a mother of 7 said she had continued to vend despite the ban because she had a large family to support, adding that her husband alone could not manage to sustain their entire family.

“We know that the President has banned vending and trading but we have families to feed, rents to pay and now January is here we need to pay school fees for our children what can we do, this is where we get our money for all that,” said Ms Malata.

Another trader, Mr Dennis Shawa, said he could not afford a break from his business because it was the only source of survival for him and his family.

President Lungu ordered an immediate ban of street vending and closure of Soweto and other affected markets to stop the spread of cholera that has engulfed some parts of Lusaka.